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Exclusive: Cornwall looking to sign MOU with Highways England

Tom Bridge

19 August 2015

Cornwall Council is looking to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Highways England, setting out a formalised map for future joint working.

While Cornwall Council has a long-standing collaborative arrangement with Highways England on large projects including dualling on the A30 - where the local authority is taking the lead - the signing of a MOU could transform regional work on larger schemes.

Speaking to Transport-Network, Jeremy Edwards of Cornwall Council’s transportation department, said: ‘We are certainly looking to have a memorandum of understanding between us and Highways England. Certainly for the large capital schemes.’

He said it would be ‘good practice’ to establish an agreement ‘setting out in writing the responsibilities that each party will have’.

Mr Edwards added that he hoped the agreement was reached ‘soon’ as ‘it’s not hugely complicated’.

Highways England has outlined plans to establish MOUs with key groups of councils as part of efforts to formalise day-to-day activity and long-term planning.

The news comes as the government owned company is making significant progress on signing an MoU with Transport for the North, a crucial player in chancellor George Osborne’s drive to support a Northern Powerhouse.

Such a deal has already been signed with Transport for Greater Manchester, outlining shared priorities for the region’s key road network.

Alan Shepherd, north west divisional director at Highways England, told Transport-Network that the body was now ‘very close to signing a MOU with Transport for the North’.

A formal partnership was signed between Highways England and Kent CC earlier this year, including detailed procedures surrounding road closures, communication on incidents and co-ordination surrounding road works.